Course Syllabus | 2026–2027

Teacher: Ms. Annah Goss School: Crab Orchard Elementary

Grade: 6th Grade Course: English Language Arts

Welcome!

Welcome to 6th Grade English Language Arts!

My goal is to make our classroom a place where students feel welcomed, encouraged, and ready to grow. Sixth grade brings new challenges and responsibilities, and I want students to develop the confidence and skills they need to succeed both inside and outside of the classroom.

In ELA, students will do more than simply read and write. They will learn to think deeply, ask questions, explain their ideas, use evidence, communicate clearly, and become independent learners. We will explore a variety of texts and writing experiences while building skills that students can carry with them throughout their education.

I have high expectations for every student, and I expect students to take their learning seriously. Effort, respect, responsibility, preparation, and a willingness to learn will be important parts of our classroom. At the same time, I understand that learning takes practice and that mistakes are a natural part of the process.

My classroom will be a place where students are encouraged to try, learn from their mistakes, and keep going when something feels difficult. I will provide the structure, support, and encouragement students need, while students are responsible for putting forth their best effort and making positive choices.

Together, we will read, write, think, learn, and grow throughout the school year!

Course Description

Sixth grade English Language Arts focuses on developing strong readers, writers, speakers, listeners, and critical thinkers. Students will read a variety of literary and informational texts, analyze how authors develop ideas and use language, write for different purposes, and communicate their thinking clearly and effectively.

Students will:

• Read and analyze a variety of literary and informational texts

• Cite textual evidence and make logical inferences

• Determine themes, central ideas, and objective summaries

• Analyze characters, events, ideas, structure, and author’s craft

• Write arguments, informative/explanatory texts, and narratives

• Develop, revise, edit, and publish clear writing

• Build vocabulary and apply grade-appropriate language conventions

• Participate appropriately in discussions and present ideas clearly

Units of Study

Reading Literature

Students will:

• Analyze explicit meaning and draw logical inferences

• Cite textual evidence to support conclusions

• Determine themes and analyze how they develop

• Analyze characters, events, and ideas

• Analyze word choice, structure, and point of view

Reading Informational Text

Students will:

• Determine central ideas and provide objective summaries

• Analyze relationships among individuals, events, and ideas

• Analyze text structure, purpose, point of view, claims, and evidence

• Integrate information from different media and formats

Writing

Students will:

• Write arguments supported by clear reasons and relevant evidence

• Write informative/explanatory texts that develop a topic clearly

• Write narratives using effective details and techniques

• Use organization, transitions, evidence, and conclusions

• Gather information from credible sources

• Revise, edit, and strengthen writing

Language

Students will:

• Apply grade-appropriate grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling

• Determine or clarify unfamiliar words and phrases

• Use context, word relationships, roots, affixes, and reference materials

• Build academic and domain-specific vocabulary

Speaking & Listening

• Participate effectively in collaborative discussions

• Interpret information presented in different media and formats

• Present claims and findings with appropriate organization and evidence

• Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks

• Course skills will be practiced repeatedly throughout the year as students work with increasingly complex texts and writing tasks.

Grading

Mastery Connect — 60%

Mastery Connect assessments are used to measure students' understanding and mastery of the Tennessee Academic Standards being taught. Assessments may include selected-response questions, constructed responses, reading passages, writing tasks, and other standards-based activities.

Classwork — 40%

Classwork may include reading and annotation activities, vocabulary, grammar practice, writing assignments, discussions, bell work, research, projects, text analysis, constructed responses, and other daily assignments. Students are expected to complete their work carefully and give their best effort.

Homework

I do not assign homework on a regular basis. I believe students need time outside of school to rest, spend time with family, participate in activities, and simply be kids. Students are expected to use class time responsibly. If a student does not complete an assignment because of poor use of class time, the assignment may need to be completed outside of class.

Make-Up Work & Absences

If a student is absent, they will have the same number of school days they were absent to complete their missing work.

• 1 missed day = 1 day to complete missing work

• 2 missed days = 2 days to complete missing work

• 3 missed days = 3 days to complete missing work

Students are responsible for checking what they missed and completing assignments within the appropriate time frame.

Classroom Expectations

1. Be Respectful. Treat your teacher, classmates, yourself, and our classroom with respect.
2. Be Responsible. Come prepared, bring your materials, complete your work, and take ownership of your choices. 3. Be Ready to Learn. Be present, participate, listen, ask questions, and give your best effort.
4. Follow Directions. Listen carefully and follow directions the first time they are given.
5. Do Your Best. You do not have to be perfect. You do have to try.

Mistakes are a normal and necessary part of learning. I would much rather see a student attempt something, make a mistake, and learn from it than refuse to try.

Required Materials

• Notebook

• Pencil

• Students should come to class prepared to learn.

Technology

Technology may be used throughout the school year when it supports instruction and student learning. Students are expected to use technology appropriately and only for its intended classroom purpose. Misuse of technology may result in loss of technology privileges and/or additional consequences according to school policy.

Communication With Families
Communication with parents and guardians will be through the ParentSquare app. Messages will be monitored and responded to during school communication hours, 7:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m., on school days. If there is an academic, behavioral, or other concern involving your child, I will communicate with you so that we can work together to address it. Parents and guardians are encouraged to use ParentSquare when they have questions or concerns.

Assessments & Major Assignments

• Mastery Connect assessments

• Unit assessments and reading checks

• Reading and annotation activities

• Writing assignments and constructed responses

• Research and writing activities

• Vocabulary and language activities

• Projects and presentations

• Text analysis and evidence-based activities

• Class activities and other standards-based assignments

Students will receive additional information and instructions as major assignments are introduced.

Tennessee ELA Standards

Instruction is aligned to the current Tennessee Academic Standards for English Language Arts, Grade 6. The standards emphasize increasingly complex literary and informational texts, evidence-based reading and writing, effective communication, vocabulary development, and language conventions.

Throughout the year, students will focus on:

• Reading Literature: Key ideas, details, inferences, theme, summary, characters, events, craft, structure, language, point of view, and text complexity.

• Reading Informational Text: Central ideas, evidence, structure, purpose, point of view, claims, evidence, and integration of information.

• Writing: Argument, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing; organization; development; evidence; research; revision; editing; and publishing.

• Speaking & Listening: Collaborative discussions, presentations, interpreting information, evaluating speakers, and effective communication.

• Language: Grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, word relationships, roots, affixes, and academic language.

Examples of Grade 6 standards addressed throughout the year include:

• 6.RL.KID.1–3 — Key ideas, details, inferences, theme, summary, characters, events, and ideas

• 6.RL.CS.4–6 and 6.RL.IKI.7, 9–10 — Craft and structure, point of view, media, comparison, and text complexity

• 6.RI.KID.1–3, 6.RI.CS.4–6, and 6.RI.IKI.7–9 — Central ideas, evidence, structure, purpose, claims, and integration of information

• 6.W.TTP.1–3 — Argument, informative/explanatory, and narrative writing

• 6.W.PDW.4–6, 6.W.RBPK.7–9, and 6.W.RW.10 — Writing process, research, sources, technology, and routine writing

• 6.SL.CC.1–3 and 6.SL.PKI.4–6 — Collaborative discussions, presentations, and effective communication

• 6.L.CSE.1–2, 6.L.KL.3, and 6.L.VAU.4–6 — Language conventions, word relationships, vocabulary, and word acquisition

The specific sequence and pacing of topics may be adjusted throughout the school year based on student learning needs, instructional requirements, school schedules, and curriculum pacing. Tennessee's current ELA standards remain in effect for the 2026–27 school year. Revised ELA standards are scheduled for statewide implementation beginning in 2029–30.

Access to Instructional Materials

Parents and guardians may request access to instructional materials used in the course in accordance with applicable school and district policies and procedures. Instructional materials may include textbooks, digital resources, supplemental readings, presentations, videos, writing materials, and other resources used to support the Tennessee Academic Standards.

Thank you for partnering with me this school year. I am looking

forward to a year of reading, writing, learning, and growth!